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Choosing a proper image hosting service requires knowing for what the pictures will be used. Business customers have different bandwidth, licensing and download requirements than a teenager, so there are many sites to suit a variety of needs. Would you like to use pics for avatars or slide shows? There are sites that offer Flash enhancements as well.
Image hosting sites range from very simple to complex, offering membership packages or free services. Those requiring hosting for adult pics will find their choices extremely limited; almost all adult pic hosts charge for server space. -
Do you have a camera full of funny vacation photos? Try a site like Photobucket, Slide or Flickr for your hosting needs. These hosts not only offer a wide array of editing tools, but also a wonderful assortment of Flash enhancements and slideshows.
There's the added perk of social networking, which enables users to share easily and make new contacts with those who have similar interests. Parents will be happy to know that these sites also have privacy controls and URL scrambling to deter Peeping Toms from their child's shots. -
2006 Kevin Zollman / Creative CommonsWhen looking to host business photos, there are other worries. For instance, an auction seller may need a huge amount of storage for item shots, with reliable service that has almost no down time. A model, on the other hand, may require a site that can scale pictures easily between required sizes. A blogger may want to earn money from his pictures, while a pro-am photographer may need copyright protections for important works.
There are options to suit all of these situations. The blogger looking to profit can use a service such as Shareapic, which uses personal Google AdSense account information to pay the user for each click-through. The model can use either ImageShack or Photobucket, providing the pictures aren't too risque. If they involve nudity, she can use Photeto, which offers adult hosting for a low monthly fee. The auction seller can try Photobucket's pay hosting, which also allows larger pic sizes and additional services.
Flickr is great for the photographer because they offer sharing under Creative Commons licenses. Creative Commons photography has a variable set of rights chosen by the artist when they post the pic. Users can download and use the work as long as they adhere to these requirements. Creative Commons pictures end up on news articles, blogs and in advertising, so it's a great way to get clients and contribute to others' projects.
